Sarfaraz Khan in, Dhruv Jurel out for IND vs SL Tests: Mohammad Kaif picks his XI

Sarfaraz was brought into the squad as a replacement for injured Sai Sudharsan, giving him another opportunity to return to India’s Test setup. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said India could still favour Jurel because he has already been part of the team.

If they follow the trend of backing the players who have already been playing for the team, then they might say, ‘Jurel has been with us already. His record includes a century and three fifties, with his standout innings coming against New Zealand in.

What Happened

Kaif feels Sarfaraz's range of strokes could become particularly useful as a Test progresses and batting conditions become tougher. Kaif also pointed to Jurel's recent form while explaining why he would go with Sarfaraz.

• Sarfaraz has played six Tests since making his debut in 2024, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10.

• His recent numbers, according to Kaif, make the selection call more difficult, particularly with Sarfaraz now back in the squad.

• Jurel has scored 478 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 34.14, including one century and one fifty.

Key Details

The wicketkeeper-batter scored only 18 runs across two innings in India's warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge